Will A. Hadden DVM Obituary

A memorial service for Dr. Will A. "Sandy" Hadden, DVM, 61, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Grace Community Church with Pastor Doug Clark officiating.

A private family burial will be held at Rose Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Dr. Hadden passed away October 31, 2012 at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Sandy left an incredible legacy of faith in Jesus Christ with full confidence in his future and eyes fixed on what is unseen, not what is seen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

He was raised in Odessa, to Will A. Jr., and Jean Godbey Hadden. He attended Odessa Permian and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a DVM in 1975. Dr. Hadden served three years in the US Army as post veterinarian at Ft. Ord in Monterey, CA. In February of 1978, Dr. Hadden moved to Tyler and began practicing veterinary medicine in private practice. He later opened the Gresham Veterinary Hospital in September of 1993. He and his high school sweetheart, Joy married in 1969. Sandy was an attending veterinarian at UTTHSC for the past 15 years.

Dr. Hadden enjoyed traveling, sports, fitness activities, fantasy football, coin collecting, reading, and Christian ministry. He particularly enjoyed gatherings with his family, especially his grandchildren, and friends, for a cook out in his outdoor kitchen.

Dr. Hadden was very active in his professional career. Some of his achievements include, establishing the Equine Medical Center Laboratory in September 1993, past president of the East Texas Veterinary Medical Association, past president of the East Texas Equine Veterinary Medical Association, past Director of Tyler Animal Emergency Clinic, past Director of Northeast Texas District, and past Director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (six years, two terms) as well as a serving member of these. He also was co-author and Editor of the Horsemen's Veterinary Encyclopedia.

Dr. Hadden was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Lee Evans Hadden and Barbara Hadden.

He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 43 years, Joy Brown Hadden; daughters, Tess Murphy and husband David of Tyler, Tara Suel and husband Tim of College Station and Stori Nix and husband John of Tyler; uncle Judge Roby Hadden and wife Marellyn of Tyler and their family; and grandchildren, Alyssa, Jonathan, Mary Grace, and Kathleen Murphy, and Harrison, Lockett and Cora Suel.

If desired, memorials may be made to the "All In Project" of Grace Community Church, 3215 Old Jacksonville Hwy, Tyler, 75701.

Sandy's life verse was: Ecclesiastes 7:14, "In the day of prosperity be happy, but in the day of adversity consider-God has made the one as well as the other…"

This obituary was originally published in The Bryan-College Station Eagle.

A memorial service for Dr. Will A. "Sandy" Hadden, DVM, 61, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Grace Community Church with Pastor Doug Clark officiating.

A private family burial will be held at Rose Lawn Cemetery under the direction of Stewart Family Funeral Home.

Dr. Hadden passed away October 31, 2012 at Mother Frances Hospital in Tyler. Sandy left an incredible legacy of faith in Jesus Christ with full confidence in his future and eyes fixed on what is unseen, not what is seen, since what is seen is temporary, but what is unseen is eternal.

He was raised in Odessa, to Will A. Jr., and Jean Godbey Hadden. He attended Odessa Permian and graduated Magna Cum Laude from Texas A&M University with a DVM in 1975. Dr. Hadden served three years in the US Army as post veterinarian at Ft. Ord in Monterey, CA. In February of 1978, Dr. Hadden moved to Tyler and began practicing veterinary medicine in private practice. He later opened the Gresham Veterinary Hospital in September of 1993. He and his high school sweetheart, Joy married in 1969. Sandy was an attending veterinarian at UTTHSC for the past 15 years.

Dr. Hadden enjoyed traveling, sports, fitness activities, fantasy football, coin collecting, reading, and Christian ministry. He particularly enjoyed gatherings with his family, especially his grandchildren, and friends, for a cook out in his outdoor kitchen.

Dr. Hadden was very active in his professional career. Some of his achievements include, establishing the Equine Medical Center Laboratory in September 1993, past president of the East Texas Veterinary Medical Association, past president of the East Texas Equine Veterinary Medical Association, past Director of Tyler Animal Emergency Clinic, past Director of Northeast Texas District, and past Director of the Texas Veterinary Medical Association (six years, two terms) as well as a serving member of these. He also was co-author and Editor of the Horsemen's Veterinary Encyclopedia.

Dr. Hadden was preceded in death by his parents and siblings, Lee Evans Hadden and Barbara Hadden.

He is survived by his loving family including his wife of 43 years, Joy Brown Hadden; daughters, Tess Murphy and husband David of Tyler, Tara Suel and husband Tim of College Station and Stori Nix and husband John of Tyler; uncle Judge Roby Hadden and wife Marellyn of Tyler and their family; and grandchildren, Alyssa, Jonathan, Mary Grace, and Kathleen Murphy, and Harrison, Lockett and Cora Suel.

Guest Book Highlights

"My heart and prayers go with Sandy's family. He was truly a great man. I just learned about his death yesterday and I know the loss will be deeply felt."- Chris Williams (Lindale, TX)

"I was saddened to learn of Dr. Hadden's passing too late to attend his memorial service. He will certainly be missed by one and all. My condolences to his family and friends and pray that Our Lord will send the Comforter to help heal their broken..."- Ellen Holmes (Bullard (Formerly))

"To express our deep sympathy to you on your loss. We thank Dr.Hadden for serving our country in the U.S. Army as a veterinarian at Ft. Ord, Cal. Because of Dr. Hadden & other young men & women we have our freedom in this great country. May God's..."- The American Legion, Earl Graham Post 159 (Bryan, TX)

"I have seen my husband cry three times in 35 years the first was Denver's birth the second was Dallas's birth the third was at Sandy's memorial service.To say he loved him like a brother would be an understatement ."- Linda Dyer (Tyler)

"So sorry to hear of Dr. Hadden's passing. He has saved the life of more than one of my animals and gave my daughter a start in the vet tech field after college. A very large loss to all of us that benefited from his knowledge and wisdom. My..."- Michelle Copeland (Chandler, TX)

Other obituaries

Published in Odessa American on November 2, 2012

TYLER A memorial service for Dr. Will A. "Sandy" Hadden, DVM, 61, of Tyler, will be held on Saturday, November 3, 2012 at 2:00 PM at Grace Community Church with Pastor Doug Clark officiating. A...
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Published in Tyler Morning Telegraph on November 3, 2012

A memorial service for Dr. Will A. "Sandy" Hadden, DVM, 61, of Tyler will be held on Saturday, Nov. 3, 2012, at 2 p.m. at Grace Community Church with Pastor Doug Clark officiating. A private family...
Read Obituary